Monarch Joint Venture Blog
Monarch butterfly listing update: what “long-term actions” means
In December 2025, the Associated Press reported the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved the monarch butterfly’s Endangered Species Act rulemaking from the “proposed rule stage” to “long-term action” in the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda, published September 2025. A final ruling had been expected in December 2025, one year after the proposed rule was published. By moving the rule to long-term action, the agency does not expect a final decision for at least another year. Read More
Western Monarch Population Continues to Decline
The 28th annual Western Monarch Count has reported a peak population of just 9,119 butterflies this winter. Read More
USFWS Seeks Public Input on Monarch Butterfly ESA Listing
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced a proposed rule to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), accompanied by a 4(d) rule and critical habitat designation. As part of this process, the USFWS is seeking public input during a 90-day comment period, open from December 12, 2024, to March 12, 2025. Read More
MJV Calls for Increased Collaboration as USFWS Proposes Monarchs as a Threatened Species
A proposal to list the monarch butterfly as threatened with an accompanying 4(d) rule and critical habitat designations represents a significant milestone and strengthens the call to action for species conservation efforts. Read More
A New Era: Prairie Oaks Institute Passes the Torch to Monarch Joint Venture
Change is the heartbeat of progress, and today, we at the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) stand at the threshold of a remarkable transformation. With gratitude and anticipation, we are excited to announce the acquisition of a beautiful and cherished farm and nature campus in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. This 20-acre property was gifted to us by the Prairie Oaks Institute at Robert Creek and has a long line of conservation stewards and caretakers. We are honored to continue this legacy of land stewardship and embrace this location as an embodiment of our conservation mission. Read More